Spring Gardening Tips: Prepare Your Yard for Beauty and Growth
Spring is in the air, and the busy gardening season is just around the corner. Gardening not only brings personal satisfaction but can also increase the value of your property with well-placed trees, shrubs, flowering plants, and a lush lawn.
Prep Your Soil
Start with well-cultivated garden beds dug several times in early spring and enriched with nutrients. Work the soil only when frost is gone and it’s not waterlogged. To test, squeeze a handful into a ball—if it shatters, it’s ready. Incorporate organic material like compost, straw, grass clippings, or leaves to retain moisture and reduce weed growth.
Winter Mulch Removal
Wait until frost has passed before clearing old mulch. Be gentle to avoid damaging emerging perennials like tulips and crocuses and to protect beneficial insects.
Pruning and Fertilizing
Early spring is ideal for pruning fruit trees and deciduous hedges, encouraging new growth and fruit production. Conifers are best pruned in the fall. Apply tree fertilizer spikes in early spring to boost growth.
Lawn Care
Aerate your lawn every few years to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the soil. Apply a slow-release, high-nitrogen fertilizer after raking leaves and debris from winter. This promotes deeper root growth and a thicker, greener lawn.
Planting Tips
Start small if you’re new to gardening. Plan flower and vegetable beds as “outdoor rooms” to balance sun, shade, and usability. Concentrate vegetables in square or rectangular plots to reduce weeding and watering efforts. Consider sun, shade, heat, drainage, and wind when selecting plant locations.
Plan Ahead
Garden centres get busy in spring. Draw up a plan or visualize your yard in advance to determine the plants, shrubs, and quantities you’ll need. Preparation saves time and ensures your garden grows beautifully from spring through fall.
CTA: Ready to make your yard the envy of the neighbourhood? Start planning your dream garden today and get expert advice from our team at MovingSimcoe.com/schedule!